Official 2018 HHN-28 Thread

[macraven]

Once your ap is activated, you can do the parks in the regular park hours

 

[Jarsnofski]

Once your ap is activated, you can do the parks in the regular park hours

I mean with my premier annual pass that I bought in January, I can go on september 18th which is a blockout date for regular HHN tickets correct?

 

[macraven]

No Black out dates for premier ap for the parks during the day

Info is on the website so you will not have a problem

Only the seasonal and power ap have block out dates listed

 

[macraven]

Are you asking about the one free hhn ticket that premier AP Holders get ?

 

[Laura727]

Newbie here - heading to HHN tonight, Saturday and Sunday with the ROF pass. Staying off property and not doing park beforehand. We do not have EP or RIP tour. Plan is to do as much as we can before lines get insane. So what time should we get to the park to stand in line? I’ve read through page 38 of this thread (and am still reading) and only saw one post saying to get there one hour before. Is that about right?

 

[Angeliamc]

We are missing HHN by one night this year , we have never been. We will going for 5 days this trip. Would there be any benefit to upgrading our 5 day park to park to AP in hopes that I can swing a trip next year for HHN for my son's 16th birthday? Would this only be beneficial if we do the parks during the day as well or would it give us some perks on HHN ticket prices or other "things". I did try to read through the thread, but I am still not sure. Thanks so much!!

 

[keishashadow]

We are missing HHN by one night this year , we have never been. We will going for 5 days this trip. Would there be any benefit to upgrading our 5 day park to park to AP in hopes that I can swing a trip next year for HHN for my son's 16th birthday? Would this only be beneficial if we do the parks during the day as well or would it give us some perks on HHN ticket prices or other "things". I did try to read through the thread, but I am still not sure. Thanks so much!!

I’m guessing you arrive after HHN is over this year? If so, I’d definitely run the numbers. Not sure what you paid for your tickets, but as long as they are upgradeable (as most are) you could always visit guest services to convert to even the lowest, seasonal APH. Various types listed on Universal’s website.

You would receive APH dining & merchandise discounts, where available, as well as potential discount for onsite hotels.

There are APH discounts for various HHN tickets & merchandise & tours (see first page of this thread)

Good luck, that’s a great age to introduce your DS to HHN. Suggest taking him to a local haunt in your area as a warm up this year or next to ease him into it if he’s on the fence.

 

[macraven]

Newbie here - heading to HHN tonight, Saturday and Sunday with the ROF pass. Staying off property and not doing park beforehand. We do not have EP or RIP tour. Plan is to do as much as we can before lines get insane. So what time should we get to the park to stand in line? I’ve read through page 38 of this thread (and am still reading) and only saw one post saying to get there one hour before. Is that about right?

If you are driving, go early as it will have lines for garage parking
I would plan to be there around 4

You could be tied up for 30 minutes for driving and entering the parking garage

I have seen lines outside the gate begin at 4:30 on select hhn dates

If you are doing car service to drop you off maybe 4:45-5:00 for drop off

I stopped going opening nights some years back
Others can guide you better if they normally attend hhn opening day/week

Columbus Day weekend I have been doing for many years
It is crowded

Have seen peeps waiting in gate line after 4:00
Not many but was taken back last year to see that

When you enter the park for hhn, don’t start the houses up front
Most people do the houses while others that are not new to hhn, go to the back of the park

Hours after hhn begins, front houses won’t take as long

 

[Angeliamc]

Thanks so much for your reply keishashadow! Yes we will miss HHN by one night, we arrive on the 4th. I will check out the first page again, I think by the time I read several pages I had myself confused! My son LOVES scary movies and I did show him some vlogs and he thought it was awesome! I will do some number crunching since i am not sure we will be able to return next year to see if it would be worth it to try to upgrade our tickets. Thanks again!

 

[keishashadow]

Mac - good advice as always. I am having 2nd thoughts as to normal drill of doing houses in the back first this year due to inclusion of Stranger Things. Even if it turns out to be a dog, it is such a cultural phenom, it will be a must-do.

IMO it’s is going bump attendance to HHN thru the stratosphere this year, to the point where those without EP (me lol) might be better served hitting it first.

Has worked out well to hang at simpsons, to take advantage of them opening whatever house early back there once they toss out the day laggers. thinking it may be blumhouse again?


Still, not sure if i’m quick enough to beat the gate crowd to ST, hopefully the Harvest scare zone will bog them down.

 

[keishashadow]

For those who attend the early HHN nights, Inquiring minds need to know please:


Simpson’s holding area:

what house was opened early/first after crowd was cleared from the park?


Q&A attendees:

where is the presentation located?

Can you elaborate on the procedure as to lining up etc.? Assume you need to get your tix scanned/wrist banded.

what house did you get to attend early after the presentation?

If you made it through the bonus house before the gates opened, were you free to roam/get back into line for a repeat, or directed to holding pen?

 

[Laura727]

If you are driving, go early as it will have lines for garage parking parking
I would plan to be there around 4

You could be tied up for 30 minutes for driving and entering the parking garage

I have seen lines outside the gate begin at 4:30 on select hhn dates

If you are doing car service to drop you off maybe 4:45-5:00 for drop off

I stopped going opening nights some years back
Others can guide you better if they normally attend hhn opening day/week

Columbus Day weekend I have been doing for many years
It is crowded

Have seen peeps waiting in gate line after 4:00
Not many but was taken back last year to see that

When you enter the park for hhn, don’t start the houses up front
Most people do the houses while others that are not new to hhn, go to the back of the park

Hours after hhn begins, front houses won’t take as long

Thanks for the quick response! Guess I better get the troops prepared. Doing car service drop off so hopefully it won’t be as crazy I am anticipating. Our plan is to bang out a few houses each night and will just do rides it is too nuts. Fingers crossed.

 

[soniam]

Mac - good advice as always. I am having 2nd thoughts as to normal drill of doing houses in the back first this year due to inclusion of Stranger Things. Even if it turns out to be a dog, it is such a cultural phenom, it will be a must-do.

IMO it’s is going bump attendance to HHN thru the stratosphere this year, to the point where those without EP (me lol) might be better served hitting it first.

Has worked out well to hang at simpsons, to take advantage of them opening whatever house early back there once they toss out the day laggers. thinking it may be blumhouse again?a


Still, not sure if i’m quick enough to beat the gate crowd to ST, hopefully the Harvest scare zone will bog them down.

I am so glad that we have 3 nights, 1 private RIP tour, and 2 HHN EP and will probably do Stay n Scream 2 nights for our first trip. I know that we will be incredibly spoiled now, but I would hate for this to be a bad experience for my son and I. I am feeling ever so more confident in my choices. Plus, my son loves Stranger Things (he's 12, perfect age for it) and will want to see that house but hates waiting long.

 

[Robo56]

IMO it’s is going bump attendance to HHN thru the stratosphere this year, to the point where those without EP (me lol) might be better served hitting it first.

I hope that house is not a disappointment.....I’am looking forward to it.....and you are correct.....I think that house is going going to a big draw for crowds.......I have heard that some parents are taking their kiddos to HHN for this house alone.











Oh and Mikey too

 

[keishashadow]

I hope that house is not a disappointment.....I’am looking forward to it.....and you are correct.....I think that house is going going to a big draw for crowds.......I have heard that some parents are taking their kiddos to HHN for this house alone.


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Oh and Mikey too

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I’ve heard the same. Have concerns people don’t fully understand the scare level of the rest of the event, which isn’t exactly PG mildly scary type as Stranger things tends to roll.

So many people don’t do any sort of research on vacations in general. More than a few appear to ignore the advisories as to suggested minimum age/scare tolerance.

HHN is not the sort of place for kids/tweens to necessarily cut their teeth visiting haunted houses.

Have seen my share of screaming kids there. You just know people are going to attend with their kiddos on impulse, then come back here & start a thread to vetch about how inappropriate/adult/scary/non MNSSHP it was.

 

[Carnut12]

I just solidified with my Wife we will be going on October 10th to HHN. I have booked a room at Portifino with an AP Rate, I have NOT bought tickets yet for HHN.

Here is my question, will I be fine with just getting tickets and the EP or should I bite the bullet and just do the VIP Tour??? I only have one night, I am starting to lean towards the VIP Tour.

Anyone that has done both I would love some feedback.

Thank you!!!

 

[Laura727]

Here now. Got to the gate at 5:06 - about 10 people deep per line. It is now almost 5:30 and it is easily 30 people deep per line. Sun is brutal. Early arrivals get the shade. Everyone else is in the sun.

Update: 5:45 and the lines are officially insane - out to the arches.

 

[macraven]

Here now. Got to the gate at 5:06 - about 10 people deep per line. It is now almost 5:30 and it is easily 30 people deep per line. Sun is brutal. Early arrivals get the shade. Everyone else is in the sun.

Update: 5:45 and the lines are officially insane - out to the arches.

I was reading on FB it is really crowded in the park
Some past years, opening night did not have peeps staking out in the line
until an hour before general public was let in

Stay and scream holding areas always gives peeps the advantage of hitting a couple of houses without long waits

Laura I hope you have a great time at hhn

Come back and share your experiences with us

 

[Robo56]

Here is my question, will I be fine with just getting tickets and the EP or should I bite the bullet and just do the VIP Tour??? I only have one night, I am starting to lean towards the VIP Tour.

Want to make sure you know the difference between VIP RIP TOUR and Public RIP TOUR.

VIP RIP TOUR....is a tour someone has bought ahead of time and they depending on how many people join their tour divide the cost of the tour among all the participants....there are usually about 10 people in this tour..... You can tour the houses more than once on this tour.....front of line in some chosen rides.....these tours can sometimes be as reasonable as the public RIP TOUR.

Public RIP TOUR...they are usually 10 to 11 in this tour. You have a tour guide who will take you to front of line of all the houses once....front of line in some chosen rides.....read up on the things included in RIP TOUR.....this is a great option for someone who only has one night.

You will need an HHN ticket in addition to RIP Tour purchase.

Since your going on a Wednesday you might be ok with ticket and EP......hard to predict this year’s crowds.

I would cost it out and do what fits your budget.

 

[macraven]

Since it is your first hhn, go with fhe public tour

You will be able to do all houses and scare zone once

Use the regular house lines to repeat houses for the rest of your evening

Oct 11 is a school holiday for some of the counties
It could mean more in the park for hhn on Wednesday

That is one of the dates I will be there too

Hope you have a great time !